Salem's Drougas nails state tennis title

BLACKSBURG — Salem’s drought without a VHSL Group AA boys tennis champion has ended at one year.

Two years after Patrick O’Keefe won the last of his four straight singles titles for the Spartans, junior Michael Drougas put Salem back in the record books Thursday by winning the championship.

Drougas defeated Fitzhugh Johnson of James Monroe 7-5, 6-1 in the final at Virginia Tech’s Burleson-Burrows after dispatching Thacher Jennings 6-3, 6-0 in the semifinals.

Drougas (20-0) gave Salem a third state champion in 2012-13 after the boys and girls basketball teams swept Group AA crowns in March.

“It means a lot,” Drougas said. “I was really hoping to get another state title for Salem. We’ve won a couple state titles this year. It means a lot to win a title for Salem High.”

Drougas won two key matches as a freshman in Salem’s 2011 team final against Western Albemarle on Tech’s outdoor courts. Despite those positive vibes, he was not disappointed when rain forced Thursday’s matches indoors.

“I was actually really happy to play inside,” Drougas said. “It suits my game. I hit really flat. The courts are really fast. I was able to use that to my advantage to some extent.”

Drougas jumped to a 5-2 lead in the first set before Johnson broke serve twice to get back to 5-all. The Salem star broke the James Monroe senior’s serve for a third time to take the set 7-5 and used the momentum to race to a 5-0 lead in the final set.

Johnson (21-2) outlasted Loudoun County sophomore Jack McLister 6-7 (7-4), 6-2, 6-2 in a semifinal that did not begin until after Drougas had finished his victory over Jennings.

Johnson had an hour between matches and was not sharp early.

“That gave me confidence going in for sure,” Drougas said. “I felt pretty fit and he looked a little worn out toward the end, so it helped me for sure.”

Johnson also vented some frustration, banging balls against the back screen after several points and earning a point penalty by the courtside umpire for belting his hat with his racket.

“I don’t think he has a reputation for that,” Drougas said.

“It definitely gives me confidence knowing he’s frustrated. I was able to use it to my advantage. I was able to get ahead and he got more frustrated which helped me in the second set.”

Drougas and Johnson played each other twice in junior tournaments, dating back to when they were 10-year-olds.

“He’s great kid,” Johnson said.

Not that it makes a defeat easier to swallow.

“Nope, not at all,” Johnson said. “It hurts. It is what it is. He outhustled me. He made a lot less mistakes.”

Neither player brought out a big first serve, and Drougas ran down most of Johnson’s baseline shots. Johnson lacked a sufficient weapon to win enough points.

“I thought it was a pretty good matchup for me, that he played similar to me,” Drougas said. “Long points, and I fortunately won most of them.”

Johnson was gratified that he had a chance to compete for a state singles title after transferring across town from Fredericksburg Academy, which competes in the independent school division where there is no individual state tournament.

“I’ve always wanted to play public school,” he said. “My parents always thought private school was better suited for me. Finally they let me switch to public school my senior year. I love it a lot.

“The tennis in public school, I like a lot more. It’s a lot of fun.”

Drougas did not play high school tennis at all in 2012. He started the school year attending a boarding school, and by the time he returned to Salem he was not eligible to play as a sophomore under VHSL re-entry rules.

Drougas can defend his title in 2014, but the Salem standout is taking nothing for granted.

“I just knew this year could be my only opportunity,” he said. “I just tried to make the most of this tournament.”

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